I6-THE SALMON FISHERIES OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. 
By marshall McDONALD, 
United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 
U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 
WasJiiiigtou, D. G,, May 31, 1894. 
Hou. Adlai E. Stevenson, 
President of the Senale : 
Sir: Incompliance with iiistrnctions conveyed in the provisions of the Sundry 
Civil Bill, which became a law August 5, 1803, I have the honor to submit a report 
of investigations in the Columbia River Basin. 
The first of the provisions above referred to authorized the expeuditure from 
the appropriation for inquiry respecting food-fishes of |2,000, or so much thereof as 
may be necessary, “lu examining the Clarke’s Fork of the Columbia River, with the 
view to ascertain the obstructions which prevent the ascent of salmon up said river 
to the Flathead Lake and adjacent waters.” 
The second provision directed an investigation and report respecting the advisa- 
bility of establishing a fish-hatching station at some suitable point in the State of 
Washington, and appropriated for the same 1,000, or as much thereof as may be 
uecessary.” 
It was not known whether the failure of the salmon to enter the Clarke Fork of the 
Columbia was due to natural obstructions preveiitiug their ascent, or was to be attrib- 
uted to the extensive fishing operations prosecuted in the Lower Columbia, or possibly 
to other causes to be disclosed by the proposed investigation. Again, the location of 
the hatchery proposed for the State of Washington would be necessarily determined 
by our ability to secure au adequate supply of spawning salmon within convenient 
distance of the hatchery. 
It appearing probable that the methods of the large fisheries pursued in the Lower 
Columbia, if permitted to continue, would effectually iutercept the run of salmon to 
the headwaters, and thus defeat the object for which tlie hatchery is proposed, it 
was thought proper and expedient to institute a general investigation covering the 
entire Columbia River Basin, and if conditions were disclosed threatening disaster 
to these valuable and productive fisheries, to bring the matter to the attention of 
Congress and the States interested in their [)rosperity. 
The direction of the field investigation was intrusted to Prof. B. W, Evermann, 
assistant iu the Division of Inquiry Respecting Food-Fishes, whose report is aiipended 
to and constitutes an integral part of the report of the Commissioner of Fisheries. 
Note, — This paper was first issued August 27, 1894, as Senate Miscellaneous Document No. 200, 
Fifty-third Congress, second session. 
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